In the Western Union in the 30s of the 20th century worked 14 thousand couriers delivering telegrams. As a result of 2011, net income of Western Union has increased by 28% to $ 1.165 billion, the company reported. Another invention of Western Union - time synchronization. In the early 60s Western Union has put into operation transcontinental microwave system of data transmission via radio waves, completely replacing the web of telegraph poles and wires. In 1914 Western Union engineers invented the first payment card - a prototype of the modern credit card.